Cult in Galway

Where are the black robes and the ritual sacrifices?

Spooky ... my "Other churches" map seems to have totally disappeared. Maybe a cult zapped it 'cos they aren't happy with me telling ye where to find 'em!

Anyways ...

Abundant Life are one of the more evangelical churches. I'm not overly fond of some of their approaches or theology. But dangerous cult? Nah .... at least not based on what I've seen of 'em overseas. I think they're behind the Christian Camp of the Arts, that some people here have spoken highly of.

I'm pretty sure they used to be in the Tower House in Liosbán, but from their website (http://www.abundantlife.ie/) it does look like they've moved to Briarhill Business Park.

Depends what you mean by 'crazy stuff' OP... It is an evangelical church funded by the US churches and by church goers here.. there are personal issues with the Pastor that seem to have made headlines on that dialogue wordpress site. Their camp for kids is massively successful....

TheCosmicFrog wrote: »

Why do religions always have such crap websites? Case in point...
http://www.dokimos.org/ajff/

My eyes!! Been blinded instead of healed goddammit!

Sponge Bob wrote: »

I always thought your modding style owed a lot to Torquemada himself Biko. He was THE man!

"Be Pure Be Vigilant Behave"

2000AD fan Sponge Bob ?

In the past, I attended Abundant Life church on about 6 Sundays, out of desperation because I didn't like what I found in any other church around town and because, at the time, they probably had the most uplifting church music in Galway.

On the positive side, I have also read good things here about their Christian camp.

However, on each of those Sundays without exception, the sermon was heavily centred on the theme of the giving of money to church. I tried to ignore the highly pressured calls for money and just derive some spiritual benefit from the music, but eventually found the whole money-pressure thing so outrageous and unChristian that I have not returned since. I should add that, at the time, I was a generous financial giver (though never to Abundant Life).

Google the term "prosperity gospel": that's what was taught there during my time attending. I would entirely agree with OP that, like the Catholic Church and many other churches, it is cultish in that its teachings were askew.

I am only surprised that the proverbial didn't hit the fan a long time ago.

DOUGAL: God Ted I heard about those cults. Everybody dressing in black and saying our Lord is going to come back and judge us all.

TED: No, no Dougal that's us. That's Catholicism you're talking about there.

gaillimheach wrote: »

In the past, I attended Abundant Life church on about 6 Sundays, out of desperation because I didn't like what I found in any other church around town and because, at the time, they probably had the most uplifting church music in Galway.

On the positive side, I have also read good things here about their Christian camp.

However, on each of those Sundays without exception, the sermon was heavily centred on the theme of the giving of money to church. I tried to ignore the highly pressured calls for money and just derive some spiritual benefit from the music, but eventually found the whole money-pressure thing so outrageous and unChristian that I have not returned since. I should add that, at the time, I was a generous financial giver (though never to Abundant Life).

Google the term "prosperity gospel": that's what was taught there during my time attending. I would entirely agree with OP that, like the Catholic Church and many other churches, it is cultish in that its teachings were askew.

I am only surprised that the proverbial didn't hit the fan a long time ago.

I'm sorry to hear that you had that experience as that's the last thing you want when you go to church!! I'd have to say - although I haven't attended this particular church, I wouldn't have any worries about it being a 'cult' It's sort of based on the American 'Super' churches and Hillsong style which are not that successful in Ireland I don't think. I have heard a lady from their Bradford church speak and she was awesome, not a bit about money and very inspiring.

There are lots of strange churches around in Ireland trying to pretend to be something they're not, but I really don't think abundant life is one of them, it's very evangelical yes and charismatic but that's just a different style to what most are used to or indeed comfortable with.

In relation to The Family, google "Flirty Fishing".

Below is a link to the holiday home in Spain owned by the pastor of Abundant Life. In one of the photos is that a glimpse of the pastor himself enjoying the Abundant Life in his swanky Spanish abode?

http://www.holidayhomeads.com/Rent-beautiful-house-in-moraira-spain

I dare someone here to contact him via the link above and ask if he owns a yacht in the marina.

Hannah2011 wrote: »

There are lots of strange churches around in Ireland trying to pretend to be something they're not, but I really don't think abundant life is one of them, ....

Tell us more?

dmcg90 wrote: »

I thought the only cult in Galway was the 'Buckie/Spanish Arch' one.

That's not a cult... It's a way of life!

OP i'm looking to join a cult, would you recommend these people

Seaneh wrote: »

Abundant Life in Limerick City are in no way connected to Abundant Life Galway (who are a sister church of a mega church in Texas with the same name).

Abundant Life Limerick is actually an Assemblies of God Church (like St. Mark's in Dublin, Corner Stone in Derry, Discovery Church in Galway etc) and have an entirely different theology and focus than Abundant Life Galway.

Also Abundant Life in Bradford England are completely separate as well.